The Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price is taking a beating today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) energy stock closed yesterday trading for $34.79. In late morning trade on Tuesday, shares are changing hands for $33.77 each, down 2.9%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 1% at this same time.

But it’s not just the Woodside share price that’s underperforming today.

Here’s how these other top ASX 200 energy stocks are tracking this morning:

• Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares are down 2.7% at $7.83 each
• Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares are down 1.6% at $1.27 each
• Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) shares are down 3.4% at $1.99 each

So, what’s going on?

Why is the Woodside share price tumbling?

The ASX 200 is rallying, and the Woodside share price is falling, after United States President Donald Trump dialled back the pressure on Iran overnight.

As you’re likely aware, Trump is intent on reopening the critical Strait of Hormuz shipping route. Iran’s virtual closure of the strait, which accounts for about 20% of the world’s oil shipping traffic, has sent energy prices soaring in March.

After initially giving Iran 48 hours to fully reopen Hormuz or face the bombing of its power stations, Trump delayed that option by five days. The US president said that Iranian officials are wanting to make a deal, news that Iran has so far denied.

Nonetheless, global oil prices plunged overnight on hopes of a possible resolution to the conflict. And that’s clearly feeding through to the selling pressure on the Woodside share price today.

Brent crude is currently trading for US$99.94 per barrel. That’s down 10.9% in 24 hours, and down from a peak of almost US$120 per barrel last week, according to data from Bloomberg.

Should the oil price indeed “fall like a rock” upon the successful reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, as Trump indicated, ASX energy shares could come back to earth following their remarkable recent rally.

But plunging oil prices could see a significant rally in many ASX 200 stocks. That includes energy-intensive companies like Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN). Indeed, shares in the flying kangaroo are up 4.3% today, trading for $8.50 apiece.

How have ASX 200 energy shares tracked in March?

Monday, 2 March, marked the first day of trading on the ASX since the start of the Iran war.

Since market close on 2 March, the ASX 200 has dropped a sharp 8.2%.

Here’s how these ASX 200 energy shares have performed over that same time (including today’s intraday retrace):

• Woodside shares are up 12.0%
• Santos shares are up 7.7%
• Karoon Energy shares are up 10.5%
• Beach Energy shares are up 10.3%

Stay tuned!

The post Why is the Woodside share price getting smashed on Tuesday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Although oil prices eased overnight, fuel costs and supply risks remain a concern for many ASX mining stocks.

That’s because fuel is both a major cost and key input for mining operations across the country.

Bell Potter has been looking at this and has earmarked a number of ASX mining stocks that are better placed than others in the current environment.

What is the broker saying?

Bell Potter highlights that diesel prices have been rising in response to the conflict in the Middle East. It said:

The Middle East conflict and associated rally in oil prices, flows almost directly through to higher costs for much of the mining sector. The sector may also have to manage scarcity of diesel supply, which could impact production volumes. These risks are particularly apparent for large-scale open pit operations relying heavily on diesel powered trucking fleets. Many mining and exploration projects are also reliant on diesel gensets to power plant and associated infrastructure.

Which ASX mining stocks should you buy?

There are a number of stocks under the broker’s research coverage which are less exposed to these diesel price and supply risks.

The first is uranium producer Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE), which has been named as a buy with a $1.95 price target. It said:

The Honeymoon project draws power directly from the grid (connected to Broken Hill). In-situ-recovery operations by nature do not require high-diesel consuming truck and shovel fleet typically seen in open-pit operations. The only exposure is via 3rd party site deliveries for reagents.

Another ASX mining stock to get the thumbs up is Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR). Bell Potter has a buy rating and $2.42 price target on the lithium miner’s shares. It commented:

The Kathleen Valley underground lithium operation achieved 82% renewable energy penetration in 1H FY26. Lithium is likely to benefit from the increased incentive to Electric Vehicle take-up and Battery Energy Storage Systems emerging role in providing grid stability.

Nickel Industries Ltd (ASX: NIC) could be another stock to consider. Bell Potter has a buy rating and $1.45 price target on its shares. It said:

Insulated from oil price shock and security of supply issues due to Indonesia’s near-self-sufficient diesel supply and a subsidised domestic fuel market. Process plant power supply secure, via on-site coal-fired power utilising abundant domestic coal. NIC is exposed to cost and supply risks of elemental sulphur, which is used to produce acid for High-Pressure-Acid-Leaching (HPAL) of nickel – a key growth area for NIC in CY26. NIC is highly leveraged to the nickel price, a first derivative beneficiary of higher EV demand.

Lastly, it notes that Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL) is well-positioned due to its geothermal electricity generation. It has a speculative buy rating and $6.10 price target on its shares. It said:

Phase One Lionheart lithium brine project (first production 2028) is vertically integrated from geothermal electricity generation and heat supply through to electrolysis production of lithium hydroxide. Like LTR, we expect VUL will benefit from stronger lithium markets.

The post 4 of the best ASX mining stocks to buy in the current environment appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Copper, gold, and lithium ASX stocks
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• Up 117% in a year, should you still buy Liontown shares now?
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• Why Boss Energy shares are falling despite positive uranium update

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shares in Echo IQ Ltd (ASX: EIQ) have surged more than 13% in early trade after the company announced a revised deal with the Mayo Clinic to sell and distribute its heart failure detection software in the US.

Echo IQ said in a statement to the ASX on Tuesday that its EchoSolv HF technology would be deployed via the Mayo Clinic Platform – Solutions Studio Program, enabling Mayo Hospitals and 80 external partner hospitals to participate.

Regulatory hurdles remain

The EchoSolv software is currently going through the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) clearance process, after the company lodged a market clearance application for the technology in December.

Echo IQ said further re the agreement.

The expanded agreement follows a validation study conducted through the Mayo Clinic Platform validation program. The study met its primary endpoint, with EchoSolv HF demonstrating a sensitivity of 99.5% in identifying patients with heart failure and a specificity of 91.1% in correctly identifying patients without heart failure. These results have not been reviewed or cleared by the FDA and are subject to the FDA’s regulatory review process.  

The company said it would keep shareholders advised as to the progress through the FDA clearance process.

The company said:

Clearance has the potential to unlock a significant market opportunity for Echo IQ. Heart failure represents a substantial and growing burden on the US healthcare system, with about 6.7 million Americans currently living with the condition and an estimated 2 million more patients remaining undiagnosed. Upwards of 16 million echocardiograms are performed in the US per annum, with around 8 million studies containing heart failure-relevant findings, representing approximately 50% of all echocardiographic exams.

Confident for the future

Echo IQ Chief Executive Officer Dustin Haines said the Mayo agreement was “one of the more strategically important milestones in the company’s History”.

He added:

A more equitable arrangement with one of the most respected hospital systems in the US, as we move closer to FDA clearance and commercial deployment, leaves us well positioned for the months ahead. This milestone reflects the strength of the EchoSolv HF clinical utility and the growing commercial value of the solution, while the revised agreement provides a scalable pathway to market through the Mayo Clinic Platform. This may give us access to Mayo’s hospital network and a broader ecosystem of healthcare providers seeking validated AI solutions.

Mr Haines said while the FDA application was still under review, the company remains confident in its submission.

The ASX biotech’s shares were 13.8% higher in early trade at 70 cents. The shares have more than doubled in value over the past three months.

The company was valued at $405 million at the close of trade on Monday.

The post Which ASX biotech’s shares are rocketing higher on big US news? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Following three consecutive trading days of declines, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is off to the races today.

In early morning trade on Tuesday, the benchmark Aussie index is up 1.3% at 8,473 points.

Turning to the two biggest stocks on the exchange, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are up 3.7%, and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are up 1% at this same time.

Meanwhile, tech stocks are enjoying a strong day, with the S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) up 1.1%. And with gold holding steady overnight, Australia’s gold miners are rallying, with the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) up 5.1%.

And offering some insight into what’s lifting investor sentiment today, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) is down 2.7%.

So, what’s happening?

What’s sending the ASX 200 surging today?

The Australian market is following the US stock markets higher today.

On Monday (overnight Aussie time), the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) closed up 1.2%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) closed up 1.4%.

US and ASX 200 investors have responded positively to the prospect of potential peace talks with Iran, an idea floated on Monday by United States President Donald Trump.

Trump had initially given Iran 48 hours to fully reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz shipping route. But on Monday, he offered Iran a five-day reprieve, citing talks with a high-level Iranian official.

While Iran denied any talks were underway, the prospect of a de-escalation in hostilities sent the Brent crude oil price down 10.4% overnight. Brent crude oil is currently trading for US$100.48 per barrel. Brent peaked near US$120 per barrel last week.

Should the oil price “fall like a rock” upon the reopening of Hormuz, as Trump suggested, it will greatly reduce global inflationary pressures and the resulting need for interest rate hikes from the world’s central banks.

And that, clearly, would be good news for many ASX 200 companies.

What are the experts saying?

Commenting on Trump’s announcement that’s sending the ASX 200 surging today, Chris Larkin at E*Trade from Morgan Stanley said (quoted by Bloomberg):

The market woke up to some potentially good news. But follow-through on any relief rally will likely require tangible follow-through on the geopolitical front. We’re still living in a headline-driven market.

Edward Jones’ Brock Weimer was also cautiously optimistic. He said:

Although this change in rhetoric is an encouraging development, we think the clearest indication of meaningful de-escalation will be whether crude oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz are able to recover.

A number of analysts also pointed to the potential of a sizeable rebound for international and ASX 200 stocks, if the Iran war winds down.

“The conditions for a rally are very high, if geopolitical tensions ease, considering one of the largest short positions on US stocks that we’ve ever seen,” Citadel Securities’ Scott Rubner said.

And we’ll leave off with the Bloomberg strategists, who noted:

Highly negative positioning leaves room for sharp stock market rebounds on any hint of an Iran off-ramp, though the bigger backdrop now argues for a wider trading range that remains tilted lower even if hostilities end tomorrow.

The post The ASX 200 is roaring back on Tuesday. Here’s why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If you are wanting to invest in the mining sector, but aren’t sure which ASX stocks to buy or avoid, then read on.

That’s because analysts have just given their verdict on these ASX mining stocks, courtesy of The Bull.

Here’s what they are saying:

Capstone Copper Corp (ASX: CSC)

The team at Medallion Financial Group thinks that this copper miner is a hold.

Although it believes that Capstone is well-positioned to benefit from higher long term copper prices, it isn’t enough for a buy recommendation just yet. It said:

The company provides exposure to one of the strongest long term commodity themes — increasing copper demand driven by electrification, energy transition and global infrastructure investment. The company produces about 200,000 tonnes of copper equivalent annually, and has a pipeline of expansion projects capable of materially increasing production over time.

With copper supplies expected to tighten structurally in coming years, Capstone is well positioned to benefit from higher long term prices. While capital expenditure remains elevated during the expansion phase, the growth outlook is compelling. Investors already positioned in the stock should continue to hold exposure to what we regard as an appealing long term copper growth story.

Kingston Resources Ltd (ASX: KSN)

Over at Alto Capital, it has named Kingston Resources shares as a buy this week.

It likes the gold explorer due to its strong balance sheet, improving operational momentum, and multi-metal exposure. It explains:

Kingston Resources is advancing the Mineral Hill gold and base metals operation in New South Wales, where recent underground drilling has returned wide, high grade polymetallic intersections within the southern ore zone.

The results confirm encouraging gold, copper, lead, zinc and silver mineralisation in areas planned for near-term underground stoping, strengthening the existing mineral resource model and supporting mine planning. Selling the Misima gold project strengthened its balance sheet. With improving operational momentum and leverage to multiple metals, Kingston offers potential for a re-rating as Mineral Hill ramps up.

Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)

One ASX mining stock that Alto Capital isn’t positive on is lithium miner Liontown. It has named the company as a sell this week.

Although the broker thinks lithium has a positive long term outlook, it feels that Liontown shares are more than fully valued at current levels. It said:

LTR’s Kathleen Valley lithium project in Western Australia is one of the largest new hard-rock lithium operations globally. The company’s first half year result in fiscal year 2026 highlighted strong operational progress, with production ramping up and revenue increasing significantly from growing concentrate shipments. However, Liontown reported a net loss of $184 million, reflecting accounting charges and the ongoing costs associated with scaling up the operation.

While the long term outlook for lithium demand remains encouraging, the current share price appears to reflect a large portion of the project’s future growth potential. With earnings still developing and the company transitioning through a capital intensive ramp-up phase, the risk-reward balance at current levels favours taking profits following the sector’s recent re-rating.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Copper, gold, and lithium ASX stocks appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Downer EDI Ltd (ASX: DOW) share price is pushing higher today following a fresh contract announcement before market open.

At the time of writing, Downer shares are up 1.59% to $7.66. Despite today’s gain, the stock remains down almost 5% in 2026.

Let’s take a closer look at what was announced.

$500 million partnership secured

Downer revealed it has been awarded a new long-term partnership with Stockland Corp Ltd (ASX: SGP), valued at approximately $500 million.

The agreement will see Downer deliver integrated facilities management services across Stockland’s portfolio. This includes commercial office buildings, shopping centres, logistics facilities, and land lease communities across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia.

The contract is set to commence on 1 August 2026, with an initial term of 5 years and an option to extend for a further 5 years.

Management said the deal aligns with its strategy to grow its asset management services and deepen relationships with large-scale customers.

Focus on recurring revenue

A key part of this deal is that it runs over a long period and brings in recurring revenue.

These types of contracts usually provide more steady and predictable revenue compared to one-off projects. This can help smooth earnings over time and improve visibility for investors.

Downer already operates across transport, utilities, and infrastructure, but deals like this increase its exposure to ongoing maintenance and asset management work.

The company also pointed to its ability to manage large and complex sites, supported by its systems and scale.

Share price reaction

The announcement has pushed the share price higher in early trade.

However, the broader trend remains weak. Downer shares are still down for the year to date, with sentiment across infrastructure and services stocks uneven.

Recent trading has also been choppy. The stock reached a 52-week high of $8.655 on 2 March, before declining over the next 5 sessions to a low of $7.25 on 9 March, during a period of broader global market weakness.

Over the past 12 months, shares are still higher, supported by ongoing contract wins and steady operating conditions.

Downer currently has a market capitalisation of just under $5 billion and a dividend yield of approximately 3.5%.

What to watch next

This latest contract adds to Downer’s pipeline and supports its shift towards longer-term, recurring revenue streams.

While the share price has pulled back in recent weeks, today’s announcement shows the company is still securing large-scale agreements across its core markets. This may appeal to investors seeking more consistent, contract-backed revenue.

The post Downer shares jump today. Here’s what’s driving the move appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) shares have been bouncing around on Tuesday morning.

In early trade, the counter-drone technology company’s shares were up as much as $3.91 before giving back those gains and dropping 2% to $3.75.

Why are DroneShield shares volatile today?

The company’s shares are falling after a de-escalation in Middle East tensions overshadowed the release of an announcement from the ASX defence stock.

This morning, DroneShield has announced new interoperability between its DroneSentry-C2 command-and-control software and optical sensing technologies from OpenWorks Engineering.

According to the release, the integration strengthens DroneShield’s ability to combine multiple sensor inputs into a single operational platform, improving detection, tracking, and identification of drone threats.

OpenWorks Engineering is a UK-based company specialising in advanced optical sensors and imaging systems. The release highlights that the addition of its technology gives DroneShield customers another option to enhance visual detection and tracking capabilities within a unified system.

Platform capability strengthened

DroneShield notes that its DroneSentry-C2 platform acts as the central decision-making system, bringing together inputs from radio frequency, optical, and other sensors into one interface.

This is designed to provide operators with a clearer and more streamlined view of potential threats, rather than relying on multiple systems or dashboards.

The platform also incorporates DroneShield’s DroneOptID technology, which uses artificial intelligence and machine vision to automatically detect, validate, and track drone threats using optical sensors.

Management notes that this capability allows for real-time visual confirmation and ongoing tracking without requiring continuous operator input.

Commenting on the news, DroneShield’s chief product officer, Angus Bean, said:

Operators need clarity, not complexity. Expanding our ecosystem with additional optical sensing technologies from OpenWorks Engineering gives customers more options to tailor their deployments, while SensorFusionAI ensures all inputs are combined into a clear, operational picture.

OpenWorks’ chief commercial officer, James Cross, adds:

Collaboration with DroneShield enhances channels through which intelligent and autonomous vision systems from OpenWorks can be deployed. We share DroneShield’s approach to modularity, creating configurable ecosystems of technology that are interoperable with end-users’ existing systems. We look forward to further strengthening our relationship with DroneShield throughout 2026.

Expanding ecosystem

DroneShield advised that the agreement reflects its broader strategy of building an open and interoperable ecosystem of counter-drone technologies.

By enabling integration with third-party systems, the company aims to give customers greater flexibility to configure and scale their airspace security solutions over time.

Management believes this approach supports faster deployment, improved capability, and better alignment with the evolving needs of defence, security, and public safety organisations.

The post What’s going on with DroneShield shares today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended DroneShield and is short shares of DroneShield. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Myer Holdings Ltd (ASX: MYR) shares are on the move on Tuesday morning.

In early trade, the ASX 300 stock is pushing higher following the release of its half-year results.

Why is this ASX 300 stock rising today?

Myer’s shares are gaining after it reported growth in both sales and earnings for the first half of FY 2026, supported by the inclusion of Myer Apparel Brands and continued execution of its growth strategy.

According to the release, total sales increased 24.5% to $2,279.5 million. On a pro forma basis, which adjusts for the inclusion of Apparel Brands in both periods, sales were up 2.1%.

Operating gross profit rose 35.1% to $886.0 million, while underlying EBIT increased 10.5% to $112.8 million.

The company’s underlying net profit after tax climbed 21.7% to $51.7 million, with statutory net profit after tax up 32.8% to $40.3 million.

Myer declared a fully franked interim dividend of 1.5 cents per share, representing a payout ratio of just over 50% and a dividend yield of 5% based on yesterday’s close price.

The company also ended the period with a strong balance sheet, reporting a net cash position of $287 million.

Growth strategy gaining traction

Management highlighted progress across its key strategic initiatives.

This includes growth in its MYER one loyalty program, which now has a record 5.1 million active members, as well as the launch of new exclusive brands and partnerships with global names across fashion and beauty.

The integration of Myer Apparel Brands is also progressing well, with the company targeting at least $30 million in annualised synergies.

In addition, Myer is investing in its omni-channel capabilities, with a new marketplace platform on track for launch in May.

Management commentary

Myer’s executive chair, Olivia Wirth, was pleased with the half and highlighted the positive momentum across the business. She said:

Our 1H26 result reflects momentum across our business as we continue to implement the Myer Group Growth Strategy. Sales growth was achieved both in store and online, and our disciplined cost management allowed us to make targeted investments including in eCommerce, Marketing, Product, Merchandise and Supply Chain to deliver on our plan.

We achieved our biggest Black Friday on record for Myer Retail, and total sales for the Group through the important trading months of December and January were in line with last year – a good outcome that demonstrates the resilience of the business.

Outlook

The ASX 300 stock provided a trading update with its results, revealing that total sales for the first seven weeks of the second half are up 1.7% compared to the prior corresponding period, with Myer Retail sales up 2.2%.

Looking ahead, Wirth is cautiously optimistic on the company’s prospects in the second half, while acknowledging the challenging retail environment. She said:

Looking to the second half, we are excited about building on the Myer Exclusive Brands relaunch, introducing ongoing improvements and enhancements to our MYER one loyalty program, and continuing activities to integrate Myer Apparel Brands, as well as resetting our fashion and beauty offerings.”

Given the current volatility in the wider macroeconomic environment and the ongoing pressures on discretionary spending, we are more focused than ever on delivering value for our customers. That’s why we are continuing to deliver the right products and brands for the right value and price, focusing on managing our costs and accelerating the momentum of the transformation of the business.

The post Guess which ASX 300 stock is jumping 17% on strong results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Myer. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Owning CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares has seen a lot of dividend growth over the last 20 years, which is great for investors willing to be patient for growth.

However, it’d be understandable if some shareholders are worried that dividend growth may stop, as CSL now faces more difficult operating conditions due to competition and country-specific headwinds.

Global biopharmaceutical company CSL has a few different offerings, including plasma-derived products, recombinant proteins and other innovative therapies, vaccines, iron deficiency, nephrology and cardiorenal products. The diversification has not helped the company halt the market’s increased pessimism recently.

Let’s take a look at what could happen with the dividend for CSL shares in the coming years.

FY26

Broker UBS said in a recent note that CSL’s market share loss has been confirmed, but demand growth is “encouraging”.

Global plasma-derived therapy sales increased by just 4% in 2025, much slower than historic growth, which was attributed largely to the US reimbursement cuts. CSL’s poor result was “attributed to the loss of key tenders and poor commercial execution, particularly in the large US market.”

CSL’s new management has promised improvement in 2026 with a clear focus on the high-value US market.

But, there was one sign of positivity, with CSL’s vaccine business (Seqirus) seeing a market share rise to around 33%.

The projection from UBS suggests that the ASX healthcare share could deliver an annual dividend per CSL share of US$2.95 in FY26, which would represent a slight increase from the US$2.92 per share payout in FY25.

FY27

Pleasingly for shareholders, dividend growth is expected to accelerate in the 2027 financial year after a small rise in FY26.

UBS projects that CSL could decide to hike its annual payout per share to US$3.10.

FY28

Further dividend growth is expected for long-term shareholders in the 2028 financial year.

Another sizeable dividend increase could happen in FY28, with a forecast that the annual payout per share could rise to US$3.25.

FY29

The 2029 financial year is projected to see ongoing growth in dividend payments.

UBS forecasts that CSL could decide to pay an annual dividend per share of US$3.41.

FY30

The 2030 financial year, the last year of this series of projections, could see owners of CSL shares receive an annual dividend per share of US$3.59.

At the time of writing, this potential payout translates into a future potential dividend yield of 3.7%, which would be a decent yield from CSL, considering its dividend yield has been a lot lower, historically.

UBS currently has a buy rating on CSL, with a price target of $235, suggesting sizeable potential gains over the next year, though time will tell whether that can occur amid what’s happening in the wider world this year.

The post Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2030 for CSL shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It was a brutal start to the week for ASX gold stocks.

On Monday alone, the three biggest gold names — Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM), Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), and Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) — all tumbled around 7%.

Zoom out, and the picture gets even uglier. These stocks are now down between 25% and 40% over the past month. So much for gold being a safe haven.

What’s behind the sell-off? And which ASX gold stock has taken the biggest hit?

Hit from multiple angles

The key driver has been a sharp retreat in global gold prices. That alone tends to drag gold miners lower.

But there’s more going on.

At the same time, oil prices have surged. That shift has pulled investor capital away from gold and into energy plays. When momentum rotates, it can move fast.

Interest rates aren’t helping either. Rising cash rate expectations — including pressure from the Reserve Bank of Australia — are weighing on sentiment. Gold typically performs best in low-rate environments. Higher rates reduce its appeal.

Put it all together, and ASX gold stocks have been hit from multiple angles.

Which ASX gold stock fell the hardest?

While all three names have suffered steep declines, Northern Star appears to be the hardest hit over the past month, with a decline of 39%.

The stock has seen the sharpest pullback among the trio, as investors reassess its valuation and growth outlook in a weaker gold price environment.

That’s a notable shift. Northern Star had been a market favourite not long ago.

What do analysts think now?

Newmont

Newmont shares tumbled 25% in the past month, but they’re still 76% up over 12 months.

Most brokers still seem to be positive on the $155 billion ASX gold stock. TradingView data show that 21 out of 25 Newmont watchers rate it a buy or strong buy.

They have set an average 12-month price target of roughly 206.00, which points to a 56% upside at the time of writing.

Morgans has taken a cautious stance on Newmont. The broker has an accumulate rating and a $187.00 price target on its shares. That suggests 40% upside, but not enough to justify a more aggressive call.

Northern Star

Northern Star still has its fans, despite taking the hardest fall.

Bell Potter currently maintains a buy rating and a $30.00 price target, suggesting a potential gain of 74% over 12 months. That signals confidence in the company’s production profile and asset base.

However, it’s worth noting Bell Potter’s target has come down from $35.00. That reflects softer expectations across the sector.

Evolution Mining

This is where sentiment turns more cautious. The ASX gold stock shed 24.4% of its value over a month.

Not many brokers are convinced Evolution offers compelling value at current levels. The average price target sits at $14.55. That implies a 26% upside from where the stock is trading now.

In short, the market sees more risk than reward here — at least for the moment.

The bottom line

ASX gold stocks have taken a heavy hit, and the safe haven label is being tested.

Falling gold prices, rising oil, and higher interest rate expectations have created a tough backdrop.

For investors, the key question is whether this is a buying opportunity or a warning sign.

One thing is clear: in this market, even gold isn’t immune to volatility.

The post Which top ASX gold stock just took the biggest hit? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Down 40% in a month. Does the Northern Star share price have further to fall?
• Why Genesis Energy, Northern Star, PLS, and WiseTech shares are falling today
• Should you buy these ASX gold stocks after last week’s crash?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.